Brain and Nervous System

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Brain and Nervous System

• Anatomy of the Brain Structure and Function
• Neurons The Basic Unit of Communication
• Neurotransmitters and Hormones
• Neuroplasticity

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Interdisciplinary Approach Neuroscience

• Begins with studying cells of the nervous system
• Neurons
• - up to one billion cells
• - inter-connections up to 50,000 per neuron
• Glia
• - outnumber neurons 101
• - function not incompletely understood

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Studying the Nervous System

• Clinical observation
• Neuropsychology

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Studying the Nervous System

• Experimental Techniques

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Neuroimaging TechniquesUsed to examine
structures and functioning of brain

• Computerized Tomography (CT)
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), functional MRI
  (fMRI)

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Neuroimaging techniques, contd.

• Positron Emission Tomography (PET)
• Electroencephalography (EEG)

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The Nervous System

• Communication throughout the body
• Highly organized network
• Relays, processes, and integrates information

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The Architecture of the Nervous System
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Limbic System

• Involved in the regulation of motivational and
  emotional states
• Aggression, fear, anxiety, appetite
  (stress-induced eating)
• Kluver-Bucy Syndrome (Humans)

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The Cerebral Cortex
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Cortical Brain Structures

• 3 mm thickness millions of cells
• 80 of total brain volume
• Convoluted (folded) structure increases overall
  amount of tissue (total area 1 sq metre)
• Divided into 2 hemispheres and 4 paired lobes
  frontal, temporal, occipital, parietal

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Lateralization

• Two sides to the brain LEFT and RIGHT
  hemispheres
• Contralateral organization
• LEFT hemisphere controls actions of RIGHT side of
  body
• Most structures are bilateral
• Hemispheres connected through commissures
  bundled neural fibers

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Cerebral Commissures

• Tracts that connect the left and right cerebral
  hemispheres
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• Example Corpus Callosum
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Lateralization - Cerebral Asymmetry
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Cortical Control of Sensory and Motor Information

• (Sensory and Motor Homunculus)

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The Developing Nervous System

• Neurogenesis
• Differentiation among cells
• Proliferation of cells Migration
• Nearly complete by month 5 of uterine gestation
  in humans
• Connections among neurons and selective death of
  neurons (Pruning/Wiring)
• Can continue into adulthood.

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The Neuron

• Characteristics of the Neuron
• Communication within the Neuron
• Communication between Neurons

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Communication within the Neuron

• Distribution of charged particles ions
• Sodium Potassium

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Communication within the Neuron

• Action Potential
• Momentary change from about -70 mV to 50 mV.

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Communication between Neurons

• Neurotransmitters and Receptors

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Endorphins, NPY, PYY, Urocortin, Substance P.
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• Neurotransmitter vs Hormone
• Hormones are chemicals released by endocrine
• glands into blood circulation

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• Some final thoughts on the CNS..

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The Brain is PLASTIC